Indigenous Tourism Strategies

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation on the topic of Indigenous tourism strategies for our state.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: As the minister is probably aware, recently in the area of Ceduna chefs from across the country were getting together some culinary inspiration from Indigenous elders. Indeed, Sue Coleman-Hasseldine, who was taught to live off the land by her grandmother, was sharing that knowledge and noted on ABC TV that she hoped one day to turn it into a successful tourism venture. As Mrs Coleman-Hasseldine stated:

I'd love to start one up, plus, you know, telling the stories properly. Take them out to places where there's significant stories.

That could be done as soon as possible with Regional Development Australia creating an Indigenous Tourism Strategy. My questions to the minister are: has the minister had any conversations with either Indigenous groups and/or the Minister for Tourism about a regional or state Indigenous tourism strategy and, if he hasn't, could he please endeavour to do so in the near future?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:12): I thank the honourable member for her question. It is a very good question. There is a great opportunity for Indigenous tourism in South Australia. I have had probably half a dozen discussions with my colleague the member for Mawson, Leon Bignell, the Minister for Tourism, who I think has seen some examples of Maori tourism in New Zealand and how well that is working and the dollars it brings into communities.

We see some very good highlights of Indigenous tourism and Indigenous cultural offerings throughout South Australia. Iga Warta, where I will be spending most of this weekend, is one such example. I visited earlier this year Scotdesco on the Far West Coast, where new facilities are providing, particularly for groups of schoolchildren, an opportunity for cultural awareness programs and a better understanding of Indigenous culture, which is an important part of the reconciliation process.

I know the Minister for Tourism is very keen to work closely with myself and our Indigenous tourism sector here to strengthen what is on offer. One thing we have talked a lot about is offering a much more connected up possibility for Indigenous tourism. Camp Coorong is another example that does very well. One thing we are keen to progress is making sure that there is a linked up tourism offering. There are lots of very bright spots, but to be able to have a complete package or a complete offering that would make someone who is an international visitor, looking to experience traditional Aboriginal culture, to have South Australia as the first point of call.

It is a very good question and the answer is: absolutely, we are having conversations about how we can do this. I recognise the immense value this could create for Aboriginal communities in South Australia.